I Know How to Abound
Knowing how to abound in prosperity requires a divine lesson to manage our blessings and avoid pride and forgetfulness of God.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the challenge of handling prosperity, noting that many Christians struggle more in abundance than in adversity. He points out that while it is easy to be humble in hardship, the true test lies in knowing how to abound without losing sight of God. Spurgeon highlights the importance of being spiritually grounded during times of plenty, as abundance can lead to forgetfulness and pride. He references the Apostle Paul, who learned to navigate both fullness and hunger with grace. The sermon concludes with a reminder to seek God's guidance in managing the blessings we receive.
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There are many who know "how to be abased" who have not learned "how to abound." When they are set upon the top of a pinnacle their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the fining-pot of prosperity. Oh, what leanness of soul and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the very mercies and bounties of God! Yet this is not a matter of necessity, for the apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had much he knew how to use it. Abundant grace enabled him to bear abundant prosperity. When he had a full sail he was loaded with much ballast, and so floated safely.
It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, "In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry." It is a divine lesson to know how to be full, for the Israelites were full once, but while the flesh was yet in their mouth, the wrath of God came upon them. Many have asked for mercies that they might satisfy their own hearts' lust. Fulness of bread has often made fulness of blood, and that has brought on wantonness of spirit. When we have much of God's providential mercies, it often happens that we have but little of God's grace, and little gratitude for the bounties we have received. We are full and we forget God: satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven.
Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry--so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you "how to be full."
" Let not the gifts Thy love bestows Estrange our hearts from Thee."
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Prosperity
- The Importance of Knowing How to Abound
- The Consequences of Forgetting God in Prosperity
- We become full and forget God
- We are satisfied with earth and content to do without heaven
Key Quotes
“Oh, what leanness of soul and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the very mercies and bounties of God!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Let not the gifts Thy love bestows Estrange our hearts from Thee.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must be careful not to let the gifts of God's love estrange our hearts from Him.
- We must ask in our prayers that God would teach us how to be full and not let prosperity lead to pride and forgetfulness of God.
- We must cultivate gratitude for God's bounties and not become satisfied with earthly things.